By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

ABUJA – Former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, has been credited with implementing key reforms that strengthened and modernised Nigeria’s civil service during her tenure from 2017 to 2019.

Her media associate, Mr. Ofem Uket, made this known while responding to criticisms of the former Head of Service, urging Nigerians to recognise achievements and hard work rather than focus on what he described as image-damaging narratives.

According to Uket, Oyo-Ita introduced the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP), a reform framework designed to enhance efficiency, accountability, and service delivery across ministries, departments, and agencies.

He said she also promoted the “EPIC” culture—Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible, and Citizen-Centred—which served as a guiding principle for public service operations during her tenure.

Uket noted that Oyo-Ita placed strong emphasis on digitalisation, championing the adoption of a paperless work environment through the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system. He added that she led the digitisation of federal civil service records, supporting the development of the Human Resource module of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

On capacity building, Uket said over 1,000 civil servants were trained across various sectors within three years, while the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) was rehabilitated and upgraded with modern facilities, including clinics, hotels, and classrooms.

He further stated that Oyo-Ita introduced a Reward and Recognition Policy to motivate outstanding civil servants and supported the establishment of the Efficiency Unit in the Ministry of Finance to curb wastage and block financial leakages.

Uket added that staff welfare was prioritised through the launch of the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme to address housing challenges faced by civil servants.

Analysts say the reforms implemented under Oyo-Ita’s leadership continue to influence ongoing efforts to improve governance, accountability, and service delivery in Nigeria’s public service.